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Mathematical language and the Common Core State Standards for English

4/29/2013

Math teacher Lisa Berger uses this article to explain some of the ways in which mathematical language is distinct from everyday language. She suggests that English language arts teachers may find it helpful to team with mathematics teachers to provide specialized support to students transitioning to more formal mathematical reading and writing. Read on.

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The Romoland School District in Homeland, Calif., has brought back music, art and physical-education classes to its three elementary schools to give teachers time to collaborate, analyze classroom data and prepare lessons -- called professional learning communities days. Students rotate through the three classes during a two-hour block allotted twice every three weeks. "We worked through it all as an administrative team to get the best of all those worlds," said Assistant Superintendent Jill Hammond.

The Washington, D.C., school district is focusing only on those struggling readers they believe will benefit the most from the summer program, which leaves out an estimated 2,700 K-8 students whose reading scores are outside the range for the program. Some parents say they are upset by the new "invitation-only" policy for summer school, but school officials responded that the program is unable to serve all students, so it is necessary to focus on students who can most benefit from the five-week program.

New York City has selected 49 of its lowest-performing middle schools to receive extra funding for training educators on how to teach literacy. For instance, the Urban Institute of Mathematics in the Bronx has created an extra English class to teach reading and has teachers across all subjects teach literacy. "We're now working to move kids that are reading at a second grade level up to an eighth grade level in three years, in what they couldn't do in five or six years," principal Jennifer Joynt said.

A Silver Spring, Md., elementary school is teaching English-language learners and English speakers in a dual-language program that blends English and Spanish instruction. "There have been bilingual programs for years," the school's principal said. "The secret is not just to have Spanish-speaking students. The secret is having them together" with English speakers.